The Tβnaiste has expressed concern about a continuing increase in the number of applications for work permits despite the economic setbacks and increasing unemployment. She intends to introduce modifications to the policy "in order to reflect the changing labour market environment".

"Our first priority is to find employment for our own people. If there is an Irish person available to do the job then the employer must recruit that person," she said. Applications for work permits averaged more than 1,200 a week for the past eight weeks, she told the Dβil.

So far this year more than 32,000 permits had been issued. The bulk were in low-skilled areas such as farm, meat factories and the hotel and catering industry.

She was considering a role for FAS to certify no Irish person was available for these jobs.